Kingsley Ughelumba, father of Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey, has renewed his emotional appeal for reconciliation with his children, saying he has been separated from them for more than 18 years.
Ughelumba, who spoke in a recent viral interview, attributed the prolonged estrangement to a breakdown in his relationship with the children’s mother, Ebere Bassey. He said repeated efforts to reconnect with his four sons had proved unsuccessful.
According to him, his first three sons, Elvis, Mathew and Calvin were born in Italy, while his youngest, Michael, was born in Ireland. The family later lived briefly in London before marital disagreements led to their separation.
We had husband-and-wife issues. I went to work one day and returned to find that she had left with the children, Ughelumba said.
He explained that contact was re-established briefly in 2017 when his children required Nigerian passports, adding that he provided the necessary documents and paid for their flight tickets.
When they stayed with me then, I never spoke against their mother. But after Calvin signed his professional contract, communication stopped, he said.
Calvin Bassey, who came through Leicester City’s youth system, rose to prominence at Rangers after joining the Scottish club in 2020. He later moved to Ajax in a then club-record €23m transfer before signing for Fulham in 2023.
The 26-year-old defender made his Nigeria debut in 2022 and has since earned over 40 international caps, featuring prominently at recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Ughelumba recalled travelling from London to Leicester in 2020 in an attempt to see his son during the COVID-19 period, only for the meeting to end abruptly.
I wasn’t looking for him as a footballer; I wanted to see my son. When I finally saw him, he called his mum and everything changed. He asked me to say whatever I wanted and leave, he said.
He also disclosed that he travelled to Côte d’Ivoire during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in another attempt to reconnect but was unsuccessful despite watching one of Nigeria’s matches.
Since then, I have been suffering in silence. I have no issues with my children. Even if I am a bad person, I cannot be one when it comes to my children, he added.
Bassey has previously stated that he adopted his mother’s surname in recognition of her support, saying she raised him and his brothers from a young age.
As of the time of filing this report, the Fulham defender had yet to respond to his father’s renewed appeal.
